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Dealing with Bitterness

October 17, 2009 in Reading Notes with 0 Comments

The following is a must read written by our missionary Travis Snode.

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Ruth 1:19-21 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

When Naomi and Ruth returned from Moab to Bethlehem, the people could not believe the difference in Naomi’s countenance and appearance. They said, “Is this Naomi?” Naomi’s name meant “pleasant.” They were saying, “Is this Naomi, the lady who was always so pleasant?!” Naomi replied, “Don’t call me Naomi (pleasant); call me Mara (”bitter”) because God has deal very bitterly with me.” She said that she went out full and returned empty and that the Lord had afflicted her.

What caused Naomi, a previously pleasant lady, to be so bitter? Here is what happened. Her husband left Bethlehem in a time of famine to go to the country of Moab. Bethlehem was the place of bread; it was the place that God had given to him and his family. In a time of trouble, however, they left and went to Moab, a heathen land. Instead of trusting in God to take care of them in the tough times, they decided to take matters into their own hands. This would be a mistake that would bring them much heartache.

After some time in Moab, Elimelech died. The two boys Mahlon and Chilion married Moabite women (which they were not suppossed to do, according to God’s law). The two boys died as well. Finally, after much pain and suffering, Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem. Ruth, her daughter-in-law chooses to go with her.

Everything has changed for Naomi. Once she was happy. She had her husband and two sons. Once she was in the house of bread. Now, her husband and sons are dead. Now she is bitter against the Lord and blames Him for what has happened.

Maybe you can identify with Naomi. Maybe you feel like God has given you a raw deal, like He has dealt very bitterly with you. Maybe you feel like God has taken what you have and robbed you of everything good and joyful in your life.

I want to suggest that God did not deal bitterly with Naomi or with you. Here are some things to think about:

Elimelech left the place of God’s will for their life. At the very least, the death of Naomi’s husband and sons could have been the chastening hand of God upon them for not trusting in Him.

Death is going to come to all of us and to all of our family, if the Lord tarries His coming. No one will live forever. Death is a part of life. Even though it hurts, it should not surprise us when it happens. Death is not God’s fault. Death is our fault. We sin, so we die. God actually has made a way for us to have eternal life.

God was still good to Naomi despite the death of her family.

God gave her one daughter-in-law who was very committed to her (Ruth 1:14-18) and had dealt very kindly with her (Ruth 2:11-12).

God has spared her life and allowed her to return home (Ruth 1:22).

God gave her a kinsman (Boaz) who was very wealthy and took care of her and Ruth (Ruth 2:1-3, 3:17, 4:9-10).

God allowed her family to be in the line of the ancesters of King David and Jesus Christ (Ruth 4:17)!

The next time we begin to feel like God has dealt bitterly with us, let us stop and ask ourself the following questions:

Have I done anything to bring these problems on myself? (1 Peter 4:15)

Am I sinning or charging God foolishly in this situation? (Job 1:22)

What blessings am I overlooking by my anger and bitterness?

Am I willing to just trust God and believe that He has a purpose for everything and will work all things together for good? (Romans 8:28)

Globality of the Gospel

October 16, 2009 in Quotes with 0 Comments

“The real key to the missionary’s message is the “remissionary” aspect of Christ’s life, not His kindness, His goodness, or even His revealing of the fatherhood of God to us. “. . . repentance and remission of sins should be preached . . . to all nations . . .” ( Luke 24:47 ). The greatest message of limitless importance is that “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins . . . .” The missionary’s message is not nationalistic, favoring nations or individuals; it is “for the whole world.” When the Holy Spirit comes into me, He does not consider my partialities or preferences; He simply brings me into oneness with the Lord Jesus.”

- Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, The Missionaries Work pt. 2,

Source Ransom Maggard

Great Quote

October 16, 2009 in Quotes with 0 Comments

If we are devoted to the cause of humanity, we shall soon be crushed and broken-hearted, for we shall often meet with more ingratitude from men than we would from a dog; but if our motive is love to God, no ingratitude can hinder us from serving our fellow men. –Oswald Chambers

I got this from Travis Snode’s blog

The flying car

October 14, 2009 in Reading Notes with 0 Comments

It’s a joy to see people of faith on the frontlines of innovation. In the November issue of Popular Mechanics, Steve Saint is highlighted among “The Year’s Best Inventions” for building the first flying car! Sound like fiction? It’s not. Nearly ten years ago, Steve started I-TEC, an engineering ministry in Florida. He envisioned a vehicle that would allow the very same tribe that killed his father to get around the roadless world of rainforest and rivers they live in.

You may be familiar with this historic story. In 1956, Steve Saint’s father Nate, along with four other missionaries, Jim Elliot (husband of Elizabeth Elliott), Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, and Peter Fleming, made a historic journey to meet the Aucas or “naked savages” in the jungles of Ecuador.  Steve Saint was only five years old when he heard the news that his father and the other missionaries had been killed by the tribesmen.

In an unforgettable story of love and perseverance, Nate Saint’s sister, Rachel Saint, and Elisabeth Elliot, widow of Jim Elliot, moved into the rainforest to live with the tribe. Eventually many of the tribesmen in the contact group converted to Christianity, including those who had killed the missionaries. Instead of hating or fearing the Aucas (who now call themselves the Waodani), Steve  Saint grew up loving the tribe and forming a lifelong relationship with them. He is still passionately committed to serving hard-to-reach tribes.

And he’s still making the headlines. Powered by a 128-hp engine, as noted by Popular Mechanics, the 1100-pound “Maverick” can travel 80 miles per hour on pavement and move over dirt tracks. When a trees, rocks, or the end of the road get in the way, the driver/pilot hoists a parachute up a mast and shifts the vehicle into flight mode.

source.




Five Warning Signs

October 13, 2009 in Reading Notes with 0 Comments

Below you will find some information that Thom Rainer and his team put together about dying churches. I hope that in my ministry, Vision Baptist Church, we will be able to avoid these and do even more.

What were some of the warning signs my team saw? Though the list is not exhaustive, these five issues were common. Some of the churches had a one or two on the list; some had all five.

1. The church has few outwardly focused ministries. Most of the budget dollars in the church are spent on the desires and comforts of church members. The ministry staff spends most of its time taking care of members, with little time to reach out and minister to the community the church is supposed to serve.

2. The dropout rate is increasing. Members are leaving for other churches in the community, or they are leaving the local church completely. A common exit interview theme we heard was a lack of deep biblical teaching and preaching in the church.

3. The church is experiencing conflict over issues of budgets and building. When the focus of church members becomes how the facilities and money can meet their preferences, church health is clearly on the wane.

4. Corporate prayer is minimized. If the church makes prayer a low priority, it makes God a low priority.

5. The pastor has become a chaplain. The church members view the pastor as their personal chaplain, expecting him to be on call for their needs and preferences. When he doesn’t make a visit at the expected time, or when he doesn’t show up for the Bible class fellowship, he receives criticism. In not a few cases, the pastor has lost his job at that church because he was not omnipresent for the church members.

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